Category: News / Blog

This new blog, “Votes of the ANC” will be posted on the next day after our meeting to explain the votes that took place the night before. The language in resolutions will still be up to final review and some change may be made.  Last night at our overflow ANC meeting the following votes occurred:

Meeting Minutes

Approval of Minutes – April 2014 public meeting. Passed 6-0.

General Items

Resolution reaffirming support for covering Conn Ave NW underpass. Passed 6-0. The Commission passed the following resolution;

WHEREAS, in June 2010, the Commission passed a resolution asking the District (including the Office of Planning and the Department of Transportation) to study the feasibility of covering the Connecticut Avenue underpass north of Dupont Circle with park space;

WHEREAS, for many years, residents and other stakeholders in Dupont Circle have advocated for such a project, which would have an extremely positive impact on the community and take advantage of an underutilized piece of public space;

WHEREAS, over the past two years, an ad hoc group of Commissioners, business community representatives, and representatives from the Office of Planning, the Department of Transportation, and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement have held a series of productive meetings to develop the project more concretely;

WHEREAS, the working group has developed an initial rendering of the park space (designed by a local volunteer architect) and an initial budget estimate for the work (developed by a local construction contracting company);

WHEREAS, the proposed project would cover the 1500 block of Connecticut Ave NW (between the Circle and Q Street NW) and a portion of the 1600 block of Connecticut Ave NW (just north of Q Street NW);

WHEREAS, Ward 2 Council Member Jack Evans has endorsed the project at budget town hall meetings and other public fora and has requested that it be added to the capital improvement budget for FY 2015;

Therefore, be it resolved that ANC 2B continues its support for the Dupont Circle Underpass Project;

Be it further resolved that ANC 2B recommends that the City Council fully fund the project by allocating sufficient funds in Fiscal Year 2015 to allow for the project to move forward;

Be it further resolved that Commissioners Mike Feldstein (Mike.feldstein@dupontcircleanc.net) and Will Stephens (will.stephens@dupontcircleanc.net) be the Commission’s designated representatives in this matter, and that the matter be delegated to the Commission’s Transportation and Public Infrastructure Committee for further follow-up and development.

Regulatory Items

Alcohol Applications 

New application (ABRA-094842) for Saloon 45, 1821 18th Street NW, for CT (tavern) license. Operation Hours (incl. 36-seat summer garden) 8am-2am Mon-Thu, 8am-3am Fri-Sat; Total occupancy 85; Petition due 6/9/14; Roll Call 6/23/14; Protest Hrg 8/6/14 (2B08). Passed 5-0.  The Commission passed the following resolution;

Whereas, Saloon 45 has applied for a new CT (tavern) license for the space at 1821 18th Street NW (formerly housing Sandy’s Flowers);

Whereas, the application requests interior hours until 2:00am Monday through Thursday and 3:00am Friday and Saturday;

Whereas, the application requests exterior hours (summer garden) until 2:00am Monday through Thursday and 3:00am Friday and Saturday, which exceed the Commission’s guidelines for outdoor space close to residents (11:00pm Monday through Thursday and 12:00am Friday and Saturday);

Whereas, this application is directly next door to Bar Charley, which has exterior hours of 11:00pm/12:00am and was the subject of a recent protest and good-faith Settlement Agreement negotiation when it sought a substantial change to extend interior hours to 2:00am/3:00am;

Whereas, the ANC is concerned with treating applicants fairly and consistently, and it would be unfair to Bar Charley to support or take no action on an application at an abutting address with later exterior hours, later interior service hours, and later closing hours;

Whereas, the ANC has additional concerns about the Saloon 45 application which were not present in the Bar Charley application, including the lack of history as an operator, a CT (tavern) license rather than a CR (restaurant) license with a minimum food sales requirement, and no kitchen;

Whereas, there is substantial concern among neighbors about the loss of retail in this corridor (18th Street NW from S Street NW up to U Street NW) to liquor-serving establishments;

Whereas, parking issues are a major concern in this part of the neighborhood, with heavy parking pressures from existing establishments, retail, and residents and their guests;

Therefore, be it resolved that ANC 2B protests this license application on the grounds of peace, order, and quiet, and parking concerns;

Be it further resolved that Commissioners Will Stephens and Mike Feldstein, with Commissioner Noah Smith as a back-up, are the Commission’s designated representatives for this matter.

Historic Preservation & Zoning Applications

Application to HPRB for construction at 1620 Q St (2B05). Passed 6-1.

Application to BZA hearing #18773 for construction at 1528 Church St (2B05). Passed 7-0.  The Commission passed the following resolution;

Whereas, this project which improves a single family dwelling received extensive attention and approval by ANC 2B during the historic preservation review process.

Whereas neighbors support the proposed changes.

Whereas this project contains an unusually large front yard which makes the lot coverage issues very minor.

Whereas the previous HPRB approvals implied the need for subsequent zoning variances from 1) the alley setback requirements of section 2300 and a special exception to allow a rear addition to an existing one-family row dwelling under section 223, 2) not meeting the lot occupancy requirements under 403, and 3) the rear yard requirements under section 404 in DC/R-5-B District at premises 1528 Church Street, N.W. (Square 194, Lot 802.)

Therefore, ANC 2B supports the above variances and special exceptions for 1528 Church Street NW as presented at the May 19, 2014, ANC meeting.

Application to BZA for construction at 1815 Riggs Place (2B01). Passed 7-0. The Commission passed the following resolution;

Whereas, ANC 2B supports the following zoning variance requests for the property located at 1815 Riggs Place as the request has been made to add an additional floor to this structure; and

Whereas, ANC 2B supports the following zoning variance requests; non-conforming structure, 2001.3, non-conforming open courts, 406.1, and FAR requirements, 402.4.

Therefore, be it resolved that ANC 2B recommends support of this project as presented.

Application to BZA hearing # 18763 for construction at 1512 P Street NW (2B05). Passed 7-0. The Commission passed the following resolution;

Marijuana Dispensary Applications

4.Application for Medical Marijuana Dispensary at 1710 Rhode Island Avenue, NW 20036. [Note: At May 2012 meeting, ANC 2B approved this business for another address (1147 20th St NW)] Applicant Ms. Jen Brunenkant, Managing Member, Herbal Alternatives II, LLC (2B05). Passed 8-0. The resolution reads as follows:

Whereas, on May 20, 2012, ANC 2B voted to support an earlier application by the same provider at a different address which did not work out.

Whereas ANC 2B does not have concerns regarding potential adverse impact of the proposed location to the neighborhood.

Whereas, ANC 2B does not have concerns about the over-concentration and acknowledges a lack of dispensaries in Ward 2; and

Whereas, ANC 2B does not have concerns regarding the proposed location’s proximity to substance abuse treatment centers, day care centers, or halfway houses.

Therefore, ANC 2B supports this application.

5.Application for Medical Marijuana Dispensary at 1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW 20008. Applicant Mr. Michael Bobo, National Holistic Healing Center (2B01). Passed 8-0. The resolution reads as follows:

Public Space 

6.Application for Valet Staging Area by Al Tiramisu (2014 P St NW) Tracking Number: 10125949 (2B02).  Passed 8-0.

7.Application for Valet Staging Area (renewal) by Vidalia. 1990 M Street NW. Tracking Number: 10126022 (2B06). Passed 8-0.

8.Application for Valet Staging Area for Kellari Taverna, 1700 K Street NW. Tracking Number: 10127113 (2B05). Passed 8-0.

General

9.Resolution regarding expansion of DPR early childhood programs. Passed 8-0-1.

Whereas the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) runs a popular early childhood education program called the Cooperative Play (COOP) Program at various DPR recreation centers across the District;

Whereas sustained community appeals resulted in DPR increasing the number of COOP program locations in the District from 9 to 12 for the 2014-2015 school year;

Whereas the demand still exceeds the supply of available COOP program seats, as evidenced by the the fact that the 50 new slots that were available for enrollment at 10am today, May 14, were filled within 15 minutes of the enrollment website going live;

Whereas parents have been asking for more affordable childrens programs in the District and only one COOP program is located outside the Northwest quadrent of the District;

Whereas many parents have complained that the current online system for COOP program enrollment is no longer adequate or fair, with those parents who can afford high-speed internet and multiple computers, and can afford to take time off from their workday, having a distinct advantage; and

Whereas certain families cannot afford to fully pay the monthly fee charged by DPR, or to volunteer one day per week every single week of the month, as is the standard requirement for enrollment in a COOP program;

Therefore, ANC2B requests that the DC Council, Mayor, and DPR consider expanding the number of COOP programs in the District, consider establishing COOP programs in all four quadrants, and consider making the programs more accessible for parents struggling to overcome economic hardship.

ANC2B also calls on DPR to review the current online enrollment system for the COOP program and to consider alternative enrollment systems, such as some form of randomized lottery, that may be more fair. DPR should also consider reviewing the online enrollment system for its summer camp programs, about which many parents have similar complaints.

10.Declaration of a Vacancy in ANC 2B02 and Appointment of Liaison. Passed 9-0.

11.Resolution Supporting the Repeal of Prostitution-Free Zones. Passed 9-0.

12.Revisions to Policies & Procedures Manual. Passed 9-0

Committee & Liaison Reports

13.Resolution to ensure quality neighborhood schools. Passed 9-0. The resolution reads as follows:

Whereas, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) were created to “advise the Council of the District of Columbia, the Mayor, and each executive agency…with respect to all proposed matters of District government policy,” including with respect to education;

Whereas, the government of the District of Columbia is obligated to accord “great weight” to advice from ANCs;

Whereas, the purpose of the District of Columbia Public Schools’ (DCPS) is “to ensure that every student attends a great school, and that every school meets high standards in all areas that affect student achievement;”

Whereas, the Deputy Mayor of Education (DME) is currently leading “a comprehensive review of its (the District’s) student assignment policies, including school attendance boundaries and feeder patterns;”

Whereas, ANC 2B recognizes the importance of a quality public education to the health and vitality of all communities;

Whereas, ANC 2B values quality matter-of-right public schools from pre-school through high school and will work to ensure that all residents have access to this option within our community and throughout the city;

Whereas, ANC 2B recognizes that many parents desire clear and predictable pathways through the public school system and would prefer a school within the community;

Whereas Ward 2 demographics are rapidly changing, resulting in an increasing number of families with young children;

Whereas, Ward 2 does not have a comprehensive high school to serve children of high school age, and Ward 2’s by-right high school options are either overcrowded, of low quality, and/or several neighborhoods away;

Whereas Ross Elementary and School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens are the only two DCPS elementary schools, and School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens is the only DCPS middle school within the boundaries of ANC2B;

Whereas, students within the attendance boundary of Ross Elementary currently are also in the middle school attendance boundary of School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens;

Whereas, School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens is the closest middle school to Ross Elementary;

Whereas, the parents of Ross Elementary students, through their PTA and LSAT, have
expressed a preference for their children to attend School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens for a middle school;

Resolution

Therefore, be it resolved, that ANC 2B recommends that School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens middle school attendance boundaries remain unchanged to serve those living within the Ross Elementary attendance boundary.

And be it further resolved that ANC2B encourages study and exploration of the creation of a new high school to serve Ward 2.

14.Voting on new Public Safety Committee Committee. Passed 9-0. The resolution reads as follows:

Whereas, the Commission has for the last several years designated 1 or 2 persons as “public safety liaisons” to foster relationships with local police, to keep track of important public safety matters, and to host or co-host meetings from time to time on public safety issues ranging from pedestrian and bike safety to street crime and burglaries;

Whereas, the liaisons have been successful in helping the Commission keep abreast of these important matters;

Whereas, the Commission has now established a transportation and public infrastructure committee to handle, among other things, pedestrian- and bicycle-related matters;

Whereas, one of the benefits of establishing a committee is to involve more non-Commissioner community members in matters that are important to the neighborhood;

Whereas, there has been substantial change-over in MPD personnel since the revision of PSA boundaries in the Dupont Circle area;

Therefore be it resolved that the Commission hereby establishes a Public Safety Committee, the purposes of which are as follows:

• To build and foster better relationships between and among Commissioners, community members, MPD representatives, and other public safety officials;
• To involve more community members in public safety matters affecting the neighborhood;
• To establish regular or semi-regular meetings with MPD and other public safety officials;
• To make recommendations to the Commission on public safety policies, legislation, regulations, and other actionable items;
• To work with other ANCs on common safety concerns;
• To organize preparation of community impact statements for relevant sentencing hearings; and
• To carry out such other tasks as may be delegated by the Commission.

15.Voting on Commissioner Putta as chair of  new Public Safety Committee Committee. Passed 9-0.

Administrative Matter

Treasurer’s Report

16.Approval of Quarterly Report. Passed 9-0.